Straighten Your Hair By Brushing It With Simply Straight

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Who doesn’t love a good villainess Disney movie?! Tomorrow is the premier of Disney Descendants and I want to give you the chance to win a DVD copy of this great new story!
From the Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer Kenny Ortega (“High School Musical” franchise) comes this original contemporary story of classic Disney characters reinvented and the introduction of modern Disney lore. Enter this new epic universe of relatable tween characters on a journey of self-discovery. New on Disney DVD, and complete with never-before-seen bonus and a FREE bracelet!
In a present day idyllic kingdom, the benevolent teenaged son of the King and Queen (Beast and Belle from Disney’s iconic “Beauty and the Beast”) is poised to take the throne. His first proclamation: offer a chance at redemption to the trouble-making offspring of Cruella de Vil, Maleficent the Evil Queen and Jafar who have been imprisoned on a forbidden island with all the other villains, sidekicks, evil step-mothers and step-sisters. These villainous descendants (Carlos, Mal, Evie and Jay, respectively) are allowed into the kingdom to attend prep school alongside the offspring of iconic Disney heroes, including Fairy Godmother, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Mulan. However, the evil teens face a dilemma. Should they follow in their nefarious parents’ footsteps and help all the villains regain power or embrace their innate goodness and save the kingdom?
One lucky My Sparkling Life Reader is going to win a Disney Descendants DVD! This giveaway is open to residents of the US who are 18+ until 11:59 PM EST August 14, 2015.
The Fine Print: Entering this giveaway means that you accept both my rules & disclosure. I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Each household is only eligible to win this prize via blog reviews and giveaways once. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Many will enter, few will win! Please allow 8-12 weeks for delivery of prizing. My Sparkling Life is not responsible for any lost or misdirected packages. Prizing provided and shipped by Disney. In the rare occasion that a prize does not arrive (which has happened), please notify me and I will try to contact the sponsor.

So last week was my first week on Nutrisystem, and they started me on the Fast5 which is supposed to jump start your weight loss with a guaranteed 5lb loss if you follow all the instructions for the strict plan! Now before I get into my results I’m going to talk a little about my week on the Fast5! – As part of the Nutrisystem blogger program, I received my 28 day supply of food, along with the Fast5 program. – In my Fast5 kit I received 7 breakfasts, 7 Energi-ZING Shakes, 7 Lunches, 7 Craving Crusher Shakes, & 7 Dinners..all I had to do was add in 4 or more servings of 1c raw veggies or 1/2 cooked veggies. I have to admit…The veggies were the hardest part for me! I have never eaten veggies so much. Sure green beans or salad for dinner, but never for lunch or snack. And I’ve never really eaten anything other than your basic veggies like corn, green beans, peas, lettuce, carrots, broccoli, spinach, tomato and cucumber…so it’s really hard for me to mix it up last week…I ended up eating mostly carrots with a little broccoli every now and then..needless to say, I had seen enough carrots to last a lifetime! The Fast five food, was tasty for the most part, there were a few that I didn’t care for but ate through them anyways…A few favorites were…Banana Nut Muffin (who wouldn’t like that?!), Chocolate Carmel Bar, Chili w/ Beans, Flatbread Pizza. When it came to making meals fit with veggies, when I made my flatbread pizza I added tomato on top of it..that was about the only “creative’ (if that’s what you want to call it) thing I did with getting my veggies. I mostly just measured out my cup of carrots and had those as a side with each snack and lunch & dinner…very uncreative..I hope to change that with the start of the 28 day program. Another difficult part for me was actually eating…I normally don’t eat breakfast let alone a morning snack, and then tend to eat crappy things for lunch like a sandwich and loads of chips..than am hungry an hour later and start snacking on what ever I can find..then dinner tend to over eat mostly because I like the way it taste… The Fast5 is basically to reset your body and your thinking from all the bad decisions you make. I still haven’t lost my cravings, yet, but I’m sticking to the program and eating the planed meals/snacks & surprisingly not hungry! I was the fist few days, but after I quit whining and stopped focusing on how little I was eating, I began to feel better and fuller. I say better, because the first few days I was feeling lightheaded and weak due to the low cal diet…but like I said that only lasted a few days until my body began to except the fewer calories and reset it’s self. Confession time..I broke down on the 4th…being on vacation at my mom’s house and seeing all of the good bbq food & we celebrate a few July family birthdays too, so there was cake and Ice Cream..I cheated a little and am completely ashamed that I couldn’t even make my first week! Okay on to the results…7lbs! That’s right down 7lbs!! After a half week of being miserable, passing on most the 4th of July goodies..I made my first week goal plus some…but I can’t help thinking that If i didn’t cheat I might have lost more. The next three months should be a lot better! There are so many foods to choose from and I get to add in foods like…4 PowerFuels: things like Cheese, eggs, fish, nuts, or yogurt…3 Smart Carbs: things like a whole wheat roll or crackers, fruit, or pasta…Unlimited Veggies..& 3 Extras: things like low sodium condiments, dressings & marinades! This makes my brain think I’m eating normal, but adding in the right things helps me loose the weight! The hard part now is eating it ALL! For breakfast today (remember I don’t normally eat breakfast) I had a muffin & 1c yogurt..that seemed like sooo much…then for morning snack I had a protein shake and a banana..I’m not even hungry for lunch, but know I need to eat it to keep my body going and giving it the nutrients it needs! No more cheating for me…my motivation…#1 my kids! #2 looking in the mirror and liking what I see…it’s been I long time since I could say I like what I see..Now since I didn’t share a before shot when I did my announcement, I thought I would share with you now, my beginning weight, and measurements… Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links with fund the Mom of 4 Boys blog. All opinions seen in this publication are those of the writer and may differ from your own. Momof-3boys.com received compensation as a condition of this publication. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to have your product featured on Mom of 4 Boys, email Becky at [email protected]..

In the sequel to the 2015 global smash, father and stepfather, Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) and Brad (Will Ferrell) have joined forces to provide their kids with the perfect Christmas. Their newfound partnership is put to the test when Dusty’s old-school, macho Dad (Mel Gibson) and Brad’s ultra-affectionate and emotional Dad (John Lithgow) arrive just in time to throw the holiday into complete chaos.

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
How long you’ve liked & what kind of Country Music will sort of set the mood for what kind of CMA Fest viewing party you will throw. So let’s throw in a little back story on me and my love for Country music. Growing up I was surrounded by many forms of music. My dad listened to rock, my grandma oldies (50s & 60s), my aunt classical and my mom classic country…you know singers like Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Linda Ronstadt & Dolly Parton. It wasn’t until middle school where I began to take on my own styles which were a bit shaped by my friends at the time. I still liked my rock & oldies…but I was also starting to listen to pop, heavy metal & country….”new country” with singers like Clint Black, Alabama, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Faith Hill & the Dixie Chicks…I could go on and on, but you get the point. The music was different. While it was still country, it wasn’t the same as the classic country my mom listened to when I was little.
By now just hearing the words CMA Fest Viewing Party, you already have an inkling of what you want. I wanted to mix the rustic metal and wood with glass and greenery.
I took wood tones & rustic metals then softened them up with a white table runner & candles plus various pieces of glass decor. Adding in some greenery & floral softens it even more.
For food, I choose to go with some classic food choices like Chicken & Waffles, Personal Apple Pies, & Chocolate Chip Cookies plus throw in some party favorites like Cheese & Herbal Crackers, Fruit & Popcorn.
One of my favorite things to do is come up with themed cocktails. I used some of World Market’s spirits & unconventional cocktail mixes to create 3 themed cocktails based on songs by the artists.
Ingredients:
2 oz Rose Wine
1 oz Cranberry Juice
1 oz Lime Juice
2 oz Cranberry Vodka
Instructions:
Place Ice into shaker
Add ingredients to mix
Pour into glass with ice
Garnish with rose & lime
Ingredients:
2 oz Coconut Rum
4 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Orange Marmalade with Champagne
Instructions:
Place Ice into shaker
Add ingredients to mix
Pour into glass with ice
Garnish with pineapple wedge & orange peel
Ingredients:
2 oz Honey Whiskey
1/2 oz Honey
1 oz Lavender Simple Syrup
2 oz Lemon Juice
Instructions:
Place Ice into shaker
Add ingredients to mix
Pour into glass with ice
Garnish with pineapple wedge & orange peel
Grab your country cocktails and get ready to celebrate with the CMA Music Festival Concert, August 16th at 8:00-11:00 p.m. Eastern on ABC! CMA Music Festival directly benefits music education programs across the country, as every artist at the Festival donates their time, performing for free. The result of that generosity is that Festival proceeds support in- and after-school programs touching the lives of 1 million students nationwide through the work of the CMA Foundation. For more information, visit CMAfest.com
The three-hour special hosted by Thomas Rhett & Kelsea Ballerini took 4 days to film and will have performances by top country music artists.
Performances by:
Sam Hunt, Dierks Bentley, Cole Swindell, Old Dominion, Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Dan +Shay, Brett Eldredge, Rascal Flatts, Brett Young, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, Karen Fairchild, Brothers Osborne, and Chris Young!
Before you catch the thrilling performances, get geared up for the country music celebration by checking out Cost Plus World Market’s experience at the 2017 CMA Music Festival in Nashville, June 8-11th. You can read all about their meet-and-greets with seven world-famous country superstars, including Scotty McCreery, Easton Corbin, Maddie & Tae, Thompson Square, RaeLynn, Eric Paslay and Tyler Rich.

This post is sponsored by Acorn, an influence company and DASANI Sparkling Water to create my own #SparklingHolidays I just love everything about the holidays. The sights the smells, the tastes & don’t forget all the sparkle! It’s just a magical time of year to gather with family and friends and be grateful for another year together. Who […]

Top Wedding Flower Trends
There is a lot that needs to be taken into account when it comes to planning your special day. This includes everything from invitations and table seating arrangements to entertainment and the colour of your bridesmaids’ dresses. However, one thing that needs a lot of attention is your wedding artificial flowers. After all, flowers are responsible for creating a joyous and romantic mood.
It can be difficult to know where to start when looking for the best artificial wedding flowers for your big day. Thus, one of the best things to do is take a look at the latest trends to see if something inspires you. This is what we are going to do in this post. Pastel flower arrangements are coming back in fashion. This is because they provide a joyful and warm feeling, and they are linked with elements of luxury and romance. One thing that we have noticed is growing in popularity as the year goes by is wild wedding blooms. To get an idea of what these bouquets and arrangements look like, simply imagining picking something straight from someone else’s garden. The arrangements contain a number of different flowers. This is ideal if you are hosting a quirky and rustic wedding, which is certainly in fashion at the moment. Last but not least, why not go for a taste of romantic luxe with the artificial flowers you choose? This is all about high flower content and romantic blooms, such as orchids and hydrangea, in cream and pastel shades.
How to Choose the Perfect Band for Your Wedding.
Wedding bands are undoubtedly what you are searching for if you have a big wedding on the horizon. There are a lot of things to think about when organizing the big day, but the wedding band has to be pretty high up there. It’s the thing people will most remember about the day and can make all the difference to the atmosphere. But this is probably also your first time trying to book wedding bands. Unless you are a professional events organizer, booking a wedding band might strike you as a rather complicated process, and certainly a pretty big deal. Here are a few things to consider.
What to Consider When Booking Wedding Bands
If you are looking at wedding bands, there are more than a few things which are worth bearing in mind in order to make a wise and educated decision. The entertainment at your wedding is up there with the food in terms of importance. Making the right choice is a make or break decision for your big day. The first thing to bear in mind in your search for wedding bands is whether or not you can make choices from the play list. Most bands should have a fairly comprehensive playlist of songs they can play; this is actually important to check in itself. But after this, you want to make sure that you can customize the line up. A lot of bands might not give you this option – they will simply stick to all the familiar songs they have selected themselves. But to personalize your day and add that extra dimension of quality, it is important to make sure your chosen band will be right for your personal tastes. Some wedding bands will even learn your first dance if it is not in their repertoire to begin with! Another small but important thing to consider is whether the band will provide music between sets. Even band members need to take breaks or stop to have something to eat, but it can be pretty mood killing if this means the venue is suddenly left silent. Some bands will provide music between sets as part of their service and this avoids having to fork out extra for a DJ.
Other things to consider when choosing a wedding band
There is yet more to think about when you are choosing a wedding band. A really important one is to do with all important time considerations. Simply, how long does the band play for? How long can they play for? Band performance times really vary, but a typical wedding evening will usually take the form of a first dance, followed by three sets of 45 minutes or so until midnight. But other bands might offer variations on this theme and this isn’t always strictly true. Consider how long you want the band for and when you want them playing, before you start looking. Another seemingly obvious point when going about choosing live wedding bands is obviously the actual music you are going to hear. Of course, you will have considered what type of band you want playing, and have probably checked out their performance in videos, or even live if you are lucky. But you also need to think about the songs they play. If they have played your favorite song and played it well, then that is great, but they can’t play one song on repeat for over two hours. They also need to have an impressive repertoire that will offer a variety for your guests, young and old, and of varying tastes. This is just a sample of the decisions you need to make in choosing a wedding.